Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Indian Army's Big Avalanche Problem

Indian Army's Big Avalanche Problem

MUSHKOH/DRAS: Besides Pakistan another big enemy for the Indian Army now in the Kargil district, where the 1999 war was fought, appears to be avalanches. About 300 avalanches take place every year in this region, causing not only army casualties but also damage to important tactical defences along the Line of Control, explain officials.

While the army has methods and uses new technology to mitigate the avalanches, it is constantly researching about them and developing innovations to prevent them or reducing their impact. Some of these measures include Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) detailing the level of the avalanches from normal to highly dangerous, ‘avalanche mitigation walls’, avalanche detection devices and ‘winter route markers’. These markers are poles planted along the route of a post for troops to attach themselves to it using ropes while climbing up, so that when an avalanche hits them they can be easily found by the rescue team. Without this, quite often bodies are not found.

Officials here explain that during winters avalanches occur when the fresh layer of snow does not merge with the bottom harder layer of ice and snow. The heavy winds and steep gradients in the mountains then trigger the avalanche, pushing the upper layer down. In this region, especially Dras, the avalanches are either small involving the shifting of snow for about 20 to 30 feet or a full blown roll down of snow, ice and stones. These avalanches mainly occur at ‘re-entrants’, which are areas between two spurs of a mountain.

Officials explain that in Dras itself there are about 80 to 100 avalanches every year. ether big or small, they cause immense damage to the military infrastructure along the Line of Control (LoC). “When the snow shifts then the post also shifts. So we have to either rebuild or relocate it, because our defences have to be at the designated locations where they were earlier. Even the firing positions which have been angled at a particular direction are either damaged or changed,” explained officials.

“If the avalanches are big then several of our equipment and rations get buried under the snow. At that moment, there is no time to save them and even completely protect ourselves. After the avalanche is over, we have to quickly dig out any equipment that can be found. But this is difficult, because the temperature quickly freezes the snow and makes it hard. There is also the risk of an immediate second avalanche. That is why several of our equipment lost in avalanches are found during summers when the snow melts,” added the officials.

The avalanches also block important routes to the posts. About 150 army roads get blocked due to avalanches.

Instructions are given to troops to run away from approaching avalanches or hide behind rock faces, but it is only a matter of a few seconds before it hits them. Officials explain that casualties, however, in avalanches are becoming less, due to use of the several mitigation methods.

“We use SASE data that informs us about the avalanche prone areas and its intensity starting from level 1 to level 5, which is the highest. This helps us to plan our movements. So if the level is high and an evacuation has to be done then we don’t move on foot and instead call for helicopter support,” explained another official.

Data reveals that avalanches mainly happen between 10 am and 1 pm, as melting of snow is easier at this time, triggering the avalanches. Therefore, movement of troops occur either late at night or early morning.

Another measure is the avalanche mitigation wall, which is made of stone and is about five feet high. It is placed in layers around a post and takes the impact of an oncoming avalanche. The army also does not allow snow to accumulate at an avalanche prone area, so it artificially triggers avalanches from safe distances by firing at the accumulated snow. Troops also carry avalanche detection devices, which send out signals that can be tracked by searcher equipment. Plans are also being made to use more avalanche bag system (ABS) that inflates like a balloon and ensures a soldier wearing it can “float” over the avalanche.